The Holidays

[GASlick]

I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this, but here goes anyway.

Regardless of what holidays you celebrate, for me personally is Christmas, do you feel overwhelmed and pulled in about twenty thousand directions?  I do most certainly.  Between my wife's family and my family I'm just spread out!  Coordinating when we're going to be where and when is next to impossible.  You throw in a full time job and my church obligations, I've got my hands full.
By January 1st, I'm exhausted.

Funny thing is, it always seem to work out in the end.  That in itself is a Christmas miracle. So, a few years ago I intentionally began to slow down.  I started telling people "No. I'm sorry.  Just can't do that right now."  Works like a charm.

I was just wondering if any of you other fellas have similar experiences.

[Paul]

Like you Stephen I find myself bombarded with holiday obligations.  One thing that has eliminated that for me in recent years is intense organization.  I Christmas shop in October/November or any time throughout the year when I find what might be the "perfect" gift.  Outdoor lights go on in the warmer weather of late November and the tree and house decorations on the three day weekend after Thanksgiving.  By Dec 1 I am free and clear.  It is so hard these days to catch up with family and friends that I relish the chance to go to holiday parties and be with the people that are important to me. 

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Like the previous Paul, this one has found having a loose schedule helps--our tree is delivered by the same guy every Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Typical "diverse" New Orleans, our Xmas Tree guy is Jewish, part of the German Club in New Orleans that sponsors a great Oktoberfest--yup, the Hava Nagela (sp??) by an Um Pa Pa Band, along w/ the Chicken Dance.  We have holiday parties that we've gone to for years--the anchors of our obligations--but they're a lot of fun.  We're on our Xmas shopping trip now, San Marcos, South of Austin TX has two huge outlet malls--the wifey goes and smokes the cards but the prices are really fantastic and the selection is the best you can find. 
But for us, in South Louisiana, Christmas is just part of the celebrating that began with Thanksgiving and will go on through New Years, then Carnival that ends with Mardi Gras.  As you may have heard, "Laissez Les Bonnes Temps Roulez!"
It's a tough job, but I'm up to it
Oh, and this year, we have our Boys in Black--w/ some Sly Guys playing including one of the oldest players in the league, Karney, the kicker--checking in at 40+.  Go Saints, Who Dat???  All The Way--finally after 42 or 43 years it may be our turn. 

[Mikekoz13]

About 5 years ago my wife and I took a step back..... because of a simple act of nature.

Christmas day was always a nightmare for us...... we would get the kids up to open Santa's gifts, then get them dressed to drive 50 miles to visit the In-laws and my wife's extended Family. After a few hours there we would drive about 30 miles to my brother's home to meet up with my Family and have dinner and Christmas there.
A few hours there and then the 35 mile drive home..... arriving at about 9 PM..... exhausted and glad the day was over.

Then Christmas morning 5 years ago a wonderful thing happened. About 7 AM a totally unexpected snowstorm blew in..... and it snowed hard for hours. There was no way we were doing our yearly drive!
My wife cried so hard that Christmas morning because she wasn't going to get to see her Family on Christmas Day. So I held her and suggested we invite everyone.... her Family and mine... to our house the next day.
We stayed home that day and the kids actually got to play with their new toys and it was very relaxing with a few friends and neighbors dropping in during the day

Everyone came to our house that day after Christmas and we ALL had a great time! Everyone suggested we do the same thing every year because it was better for everyone, the hustle and bustle was gone, and Christmas was extended another day.

So that's what we do now...... every year since.

That unexpected snowstorm turned out to be one of the greatest Christmas gifts this Family has ever been given.......

[tomgallagher]

You can tell everybody that you are celebrating "Boxing Day" Mike. A big day over in the Misty Isles. (England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.)

[tomgallagher]

Oh, and this year, we have our Boys in Black--w/ some Sly Guys playing including one of the oldest players in the league, Karney, the kicker--checking in at 40+.  Go Saints, Who Dat???  All The Way--finally after 42 or 43 years it may be our turn. 

Let's see now, a Super Bowl win and Mardi Gras, both about the same time, Ya think you can stand it Paul.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Oh, and this year, we have our Boys in Black--w/ some Sly Guys playing including one of the oldest players in the league, Karney, the kicker--checking in at 40+.  Go Saints, Who Dat???  All The Way--finally after 42 or 43 years it may be our turn. 

Let's see now, a Super Bowl win and Mardi Gras, both about the same time, Ya think you can stand it Paul.

One of the suburban parades decided not to parade this year on Super Sunday--talk about Who Dat!  It's just one more party--you have to do something to get ready for Lent don't you?   Shoulder's to the wheel, party, party, party!